Senioritis: It's Not Just For High School Seniors

Second semester senior year apathy. It doesn't just happen to high school students. As graduation nears, college students, too, find themselves struggling to finish projects, turn in assignments and keep their grades up -- otherwise known as being afflicted with senioritis. Who can blame them? If you're one of the lucky few to have a job lined up post-graduation, it's natural to want to relax. And if you don't have a job? You probably want to spend more time sending out resumes and less time cramming in the library.

Even so, just like in high school, it's important to keep your grades up throughout the end of your senior year of college -- especially if you think you might want to apply to graduate school down the road. If you're suffering through senioritis the second time around, here are five ways you can try to beat back the fatigue, maintain your GPA, and still have fun.

Double Check What's Required

Are you taking a full course load because that's what you've always done? Many students, thanks to AP exams and summer courses, find themselves finished with almost all of their necessary coursework before they head into their final semester or quarter. If you don't need to take a full load, consider only taking the classes you need to graduate. Especially if you have a full-time job lined up directly after school, taking it easy before graduation can help you enter the workforce well rested.

Explore Pass/Fail Options

If you can't drop a course or take a reduced load, see if you can take any courses pass/fail. Especially if they aren't connected to your major, many colleges will allow you take a particularly tough class without a grade. If you don't want that "gentleman's C" on your transcript, opting for a "P" will give you a little more wiggle room to slack off, while still passing the course (and maintaining your GPA).

Pay Attention to the Syllabus

This one seems obvious, but it's important. Know exactly how your final grades are going to be calculated. If attendance in section is worth 20 percent, showing up to section -- even if you haven't done all the reading -- is basically mandatory. Likewise, if your entire grade is based on a single final project or term paper, you can be a little more lax on the classroom attendance/participation. Not that I'm advocating not going to class; I'm just saying if you know where your grade is coming from, you can be strategic about where and when you commit your time.

Work With Friends

The end of college often means saying goodbye to friends who you've been close to for four years. So make the most of it by spending time with them even when you need to focus on your studies. Even better, study with friends who are taking the same courses as you. You can divide and conquer on readings that need to be reviewed before a final exam.

Take Advantage of Resources

Almost every college campus offers free tutoring. Your TAs and professors undoubtedly have regular office hours. So use them! If you haven't been keeping up on lectures, going to a study session put on by your TA will do more to help you get back on track than you might think.

Senioritis is a serious affliction (that almost all seniors get) but with a little foresight and strategy, you can graduate from college with your GPA and sanity in tact.